Jasper's Day
Jasper Knoester is the dean of the Faculty of Science. How is he doing, what exactly does he do and what does his day look like? In each newsletter, Jasper gives an insight into his life.
Tuesday 7 May
‘Yesterday, it took a bit of searching to find the temporary route from the station to the Gorlaeus Building, but today it already feels normal to cycle via the Plesmanlaan. I arrive well before the start of the board meeting.’
Last week, we didn't have a meeting because the entire board was on vacation for a week. Suzanne is still enjoying a well-deserved rest today, which is why we have a rather light agenda. We can take ample time for the various agenda items. For example, during the nominations for the LUF Praesidium Libertatis grants, I can elaborate on a conversation Marjolein van Schoonhoven and I had with LUF yesterday. It became clear that within our faculty, we generally make too little use of the opportunities provided by various LUF grants. We plan to address this by creating an annual calendar with deadlines and informing our staff well in advance about the possibilities.
Among the discussion points on the agenda, we spend a considerable amount of time with Ilse van den Eng on the detailed explanation of the BFR (Administrative Financial Report) that we need to submit to the Executive Board soon, after discussion with the Faculty Council. We also review the implementation agenda of the Faculty's strategic plan. With Maaike Barkema, we go through the input provided by the institutes and discuss the draft implementation agenda, which will be discussed with the various consultative bodies next month. After a few smaller items, the meeting can be adjourned on time. This gives us a nice opportunity to have a relaxed lunch together. This is normally scheduled in our agenda for Tuesdays, but usually, this lunch slot is used for the extension of the meeting.
I start the afternoon by catching up on emails. Marjolein van Schoonhoven stops by to discuss some matters regarding the official opening of the Gorlaeus Building in September. A major event we are, of course, looking forward to. The perfect occasion to put the Faculty and University in the spotlight. Together with Pieter Schipper, I have an online meeting with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Science about the ongoing sector plans. I continue the afternoon with Pieter, discussing the relationship lunch we are organising on the occasion of the Gorlaeus Building's opening. After a few more emails, there is a second meeting with the Ministry, this time concerning internationalisation, a topic that is widely in the spotlight.
At five o'clock, I quickly cycle to the city, where I have an appointment with Peter Denteneer from the LION, a study friend of mine. After our master's studies in Utrecht, a long time ago, we went to different universities, only to be reunited at the same university years later. After numerous brief chats at the Faculty over the past two years, it's time to catch up properly. The weather has turned beautifully, and we take our time sitting in the sun on a terrace. Many shared memories are revisited, and gaps in each other's lives are filled in. A very successful occasion!
Via the usual bike-train-bike hop, I get home. Xuefei is in Groningen, Jasmijn is studying at a friend's place, so I have dinner with Kamiel. Soon, we move towards the TV for the Champions League. With half a brain, I meanwhile go through draft responses to reviewers' reports on a recently submitted publication. There's still work to be done, but it's clear that this publication will turn out well. Once the game is over, I head to bed. The day has been long enough, and tomorrow it's an early start for the first appointment at eight o'clock.’